Six Nations: Saint-Andre picks youth for Italy clash

France's fly-half Jules Plisson (R) is congradulated by a supporter, followed by France's flanker Antoine Burban (2nd R), after winning the Six Nations rugby union match between France and England on February 1, 2014 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. AFP PHOTO / MARTIN BUREAU (Photo credit should read MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images)

Debut: Saint-Andre has picked in-form wing Hugo Bonneval to make his Test debut against Italy on Sunday

By Gavin Mortimer

What has happened to Philippe Saint-Andre? The once arch-conservative coach has sprung another surprise by handing 23-year-old Hugo Bonneval, from Stade Français, his first cap on the wing against Italy on Sunday in place of Maxime Médard. Few saw that coming. Admittedly, Saint-Andre also caught most commentators unaware by opting to continue with Mathieu Bastareaud instead of giving 19-year-old Gaël Fickou his first start in the Six Nations.

Centre fold: There were calls for Bastareaud to be left out

You’ll need no reminding that it was Fickou who scored the winning try against England on Saturday, though it was created by that lightning burst of speed from substitute hooker Dimitri Szarzewski. The Racing man gets the nod against Italy ahead of Benjamin Kayser although Saint-Andre said it was a tough call to make. “We’re lucky to have two top quality hookers,” explained the France coach. “We thought it better to start with Dimitri.”

As for the decision to leave Fickou on the bench, Saint-Andre said of Bastareaud: “Defensively and offensively, he was important against the English.”

The only other change sees the return in the second row of Toulouse’s Yoann Maestri with Alexandre Flanquart dropping down to the bench.

Unsurprisingly Saint-Andre is continuing with his half-back partnership of Jean-Marc Doussain and Jules Plisson. “For his first cap, Plisson showed his quality,” commented Saint-Andre. “We really want to continue this partnership.”

While the win against a naive England was a huge fillip for France – and a great relief for Saint-Andre who was under immense pressure going into the game – the French must be careful not to allow the victory to paper over the cracks. Yes, they are teeming with talent out wide but in the pack there remains a lack of resources. Nicolas Mas and Thomas Domingo had the edge over their English counterparts in the first quarter last week but they were soon flagging and the 33-year-old Mas, once such a dominant scrummager, is becoming a 40-minute front row forward.

Crowd pleaser: Plisson is congratulated for France’s win

In the second row Pascal Pape and Maestri are good players but not in the world-class bracket and again there are few options in that department. Not so the back-row where France – even without injured captain Thierry Dusautoir – have strength in depth. Yannick Nyanga and Louis Picamoles both had strong games against England while Bernard Le Roux gets another outing against Italy.

But all the talk going into Sunday’s game will be about Bonneval. “Even if he’s more used to playing at full-back, I saw him play wing against London Irish (in December’s Challenge Cup) and he was exceptional,” said Saint-Andre in explaining his decision to field him on the left wing.

He is the son of Eric, a livewire Toulouse wing who won 18 caps for France in the 1980s and was a member of that mesmeric backline that included Serge Blanco, Denis Charvet, Franck Mesnel and Philippe Sella. Bonneval senior’s standout season was 1987 when he scored five tries (including a hat-trick against Scotland) as France won the Grand Slam.

It’s tempting to say that the current French threequarter line has the potential to be almost as exciting, what with Bonneval, Fofana, Fickou, Dulin and Huget all gifted footballers who use their brains and their pace – as opposed to their brawn – to beat players. As Eric said recently of his son, his “great strength is his speed”, though he was quick to add: “He looks to see what his options are, he looks for the space…and he’s very skilful.”

In short, Bonneval Jnr plays the game like Bonneval Snr, and that can only please connoisseurs of the sport, regardless of their allegiance.